Legionnaires' disease

noun

Le·​gion·​naires' disease ˌlē-jə-ˈnerz- 

variants or less commonly Legionnaire's disease

: pneumonia that is caused by a bacterium (Legionella pneumophila), is characterized initially by symptoms resembling influenza (as malaise, headache, and muscular aches) followed by high fever, cough, diarrhea, severe pneumonia, and mental confusion, and that may be fatal especially in elderly and immunocompromised individuals

Examples of Legionnaires' disease in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Thousands of tarantulas to emerge in 3 states for mating season What is Legionnaires' disease? Legionnaires' disease is caused by inhaling water droplets contaminated with the Legionella bacteria. —Max Hauptman, USA TODAY, 14 Aug. 2024

Outbreak at Vegas hotel:Legionnaires' disease cases at Las Vegas hotels under investigation How does meningococcal disease spread? —Monique Calello, USA TODAY, 2 Sep. 2023

Two workers at Stellantis' Warren Truck Assembly Plant in Macomb County have been diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease. —Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press, 10 Aug. 2023

Snyder, 62, and eight others who worked under him face a host of charges stemming from a water supply switch in 2014 that exposed Flint residents to dangerous levels of lead and Legionnaires' disease. —NBC News, 14 Jan. 2021

Word History

Etymology

from its first recognized occurrence at an American Legion convention in 1976

First Known Use

1976, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

Legionnaires' disease

noun

variants also Legionnaire's disease

: pneumonia that is caused by a bacterium of the genus Legionella (L. pneumophila), that is characterized initially by symptoms resembling influenza (as malaise, headache, and muscular aches) followed by high fever, cough, diarrhea, lobar pneumonia, and mental confusion, and that may be fatal especially in elderly and immunocompromised individuals see pontiac fever